Okay, this was the first book by Jonathan Coe that I've read, and I'm a fan! 
This novel is set in 1958 mostly in Belgium where the World Fair (the Expo) was held, but also in England where Thomas Foley, the main character of this funny, tongue-in-cheek in many places book lived.
One thing that sold me on Expo 58 was the recommendation by Nick Hornby. He's a great writer and when he said "The best English novelist of his generation" about Coe, I figured I couldn't go wrong.
Expo 58 almost felt like a fairy tale at times in the telling of this story of a man (Foley) who was recruited to oversee a bar erected at the Expo for the British government.
The subtle subplots (the most understated spy drama I've ever seen!) all come together at the end and though I hadn't exactly figured them out, they all made perfect sense.
Read it. Bet you'll love it, too.
Book Read: Expo 58
Author: Jonathan Coe
What a great book! I just finished We Are Water by Wally Lamb and am so sad that it ended. I mean, I know. A book has to end, but dang, this novel was just so good. I caught myself this past week going and getting it from my nightstand and reading it for 5 or 10 minutes. I loved it! Just like all of his other books.
This book spanned time but kept the train on track so well. I don't need to go into it, I don't think. If you love good fiction that reads like real life, pick up We Are Water.
That is all.
Book Read: We Are Water
Author: Wally Lamb
Well, I really enjoyed reading The Arsonist by Sue Miller but was a tad put off by the ending. For one thing, I couldn't quite get around to finishing it for days. I got really sleep several evenings and had to go to sleep instead of finishing the last 50 pages, so I felt a little underwhelmed when I finally did finish this novel.
Set in the 1980s, The Arsonist dealt with a small town in New Hampshire where lots of summer residents came to live among the regular townsfolk. I felt like I knew who might be the arsonist about half way through the book, but nope, that person was never mentioned as a likely culprit. At all. Hmmm.
I hate to give away who I thought it was, but if anyone has an opinion, I'd love to hear it! And I'm open to revealing it in the comments.
Have you read this book? What did you think? I was let down, I guess, in several ways with the way the story ended.
Book Read: The Arsonist
Author: Sue Miller
